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Life Long Learning in the Church
A disciple is one who is teachable  

In today's Episcopal Church, theological education is related to baptism. To be baptized is to be in Christ and to share a common life of faith with other Christians, a Christ-like life intended to be radically different from that of the world. It is a life of service and servant-hood. It is a life of action for justice, peace and reconciliation. Baptism is more than a momentary experience; it is the beginning of an ever-onward process of growth in Christ.

The main mission of theological education is to better equip laity (including those in the laity who are called to be ordained) for faithful and effective servant leadership. Theological education and reflection takes place throughout the church, and outside the institutional church in homes, hospitals, and in corporate board rooms. "Episcopalians are people who seek to know and do the truth by means of the creative interplay of Scripture, tradition, reason and experience," said John Booty.

 In the process of Christian education, a disciple:
  • Reflects on life - focus attention on some particular practice or experience so that it can be named
  • Engages the church's faith - consider the faith of the church contained in scripture and tradition and engage that faith afresh
  • Renews and reforms faith - reflect upon our lives in light of faith so as to gain insight
  • Lives faith - act upon these insights out of new convictions and with new practices   

For a comprehensive vision on learning in the Church see the document entitled Called to Teach and Learn:  A Catechetical Guide for the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church, at the request of the General Convention, is undertaking a comprehensive, multi-year inquiry into Christian education, theological education, and faith formation . To read more about  Proclaiming Education for All and who is involved click here.

Resources for Learning
Episcopal Seminaries
Eleven accredited Episcopal seminaries offer degree-granting programs and continuing education. They also offer seminary students opportunities for cross-cultural learning through SCOM - Seminary Consultation on Mission.
Seminary Consultation On Mission

The Seminary Consultation on Mission, known by its acronym, SCOM, is a creation of the Council of Deans of the eleven Episcopal seminaries to encourage, cross-pollinate, and coordinate mission interests of the schools. It is also a member of the Episcopal Council on Global Mission.   The Convenor of SCOM is The Rev. Dr. Ian T. Douglas, Episcopal Divinity School.
Faith and Wisdom Life Long Learning Website
An ecumenical searchable database for life long learning sponsored in part by the Episcopal Church.  Search by topic, ministry field, type of program, date, etc. 
TEforAll
Sponsored in part by the Office of Ministry Development, the Theological Education for All web site is a portal into resources for learning for persons of all ages in the Episcopal Church.
Theological Education Sunday Annual Observance
Annually, Episcopal congregations are invited to observe Theological Education Sunday (TES) as an occasion to encourage active participation by persons of all ages in a life-long search for knowledge of God. The first Sunday in February has been designated by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as a time for recognizing and celebrating those places where life-transforming Christian learning is valued and to call all congregations to make quality education a part of their mission.

Sources of Financial Aid for Theological Education
Sources of Financial Aid
Selected programs for students and faculty are highlighted or links provided.

Other Training Programs
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Many diocesan schools for ministry in the Episcopal Church are open to laity and ordained alike.  A number of the local schools focus on a particular student population, e.g. vocational deacons, indigenous peoples, etc. See The Episcopal Church Annual  (The Red Book), published by Morehouse Publishing. There is a list of diocesan schools in the (printed) Annual.  The Red Book includes a list of Episcopal schools of theology.

Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence (SUPE)
The program, Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence (SUPE), is an ecumenical endeavor that invites four-member partnerships of urban pastoral leaders to join together in a 6-month program, including a compensated 4-8 week "pastoral enrichment leave."
Continuing Education Pilot Program
In 2000, in response to General Convention, Miller & Associates, Inc., in partnership with the House of Bishops' Office of Pastoral Development, developed and administered a two-year pilot program, Building Our Capacity for Ministry: A Pilot Program to Create A Continuing Education Program.

Educational Consultants in the Episcopal Church
Servant-Leader Development Center, Inc. Alexandria, VA
The Center's purpose is to help individuals and organizations develop a servant-leader approach to life and work. Workshops and conferences offered.
LeaderResources, Leeds, MA
A consulting and publishing organization that helps dioceses and congregations prepare the people of God for ministry and leadership.

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